What is Meningitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and How to Treat

Definitions and Overview

Meningitis is a serious condition that causes layers around the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. Children, adolescents, and young people have the greatest risk, although this condition can also affect adults, especially those with weak immune systems. Meningitis is also known as meningitis.

Cause of Meningitis

The main cause of meningitis is infection, whether caused by virus or bacteria. Because the inflammation is caused by viruses and bacteria, this condition is highly contagious and can move easily through direct contact, sneezing, and coughing.

Viral meningitis is the most common and less serious type of meningitis. Complications such as high fever and convulsions occur only in a small number of cases and are quite rare.

Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is less common but more serious. If not treated immediately, this type of inflammation can cause brain damage and even death. So, it is important to know the symptoms of Meningitis so that treatment can be done immediately.

Main Symptoms of Miningitis

The most common symptoms of meningitis include:

Stiff neck
Pain in the neck becomes worse when it comes to the chin to the chest
Fever
Throws up
Headache
Convulsions
Drowsiness is very very difficult or difficult to stay awake

In infants, symptoms that appear include:

Itchy
The unending cry
Easy to get sick
Missing appetite
Hard to breathe
Coughs

Who can be found

If you or your family member shows the symptoms, you should get medical attention immediately. The general practitioner can recognize Meningitis and determine whether its type is caused by virus or bacteria. Diagnosis is done by checking the patient's health condition, performing physical checks, analyzing medical history, and performing several actions, such as lumbar puncture (lumbar puncture), also known as spinal tap. This is the most important checkup to be performed if the patient is suspected of having Meningitis because this action includes taking fluid samples from the spinal cord so it can be seen whether the inflammation is caused by a virus or bacteria. Other tests, such as CT scans, MRI, and blood tests, are performed to support the diagnosis.

Available Treatment Types

There are several treatments for Meningitis, depending on the type of illness.

Meningitis caused by bacteria - Bacterial meningitis is handled by the use of antibiotics and steroid treatment called dexamethasone. This condition needs hospital handling, so patient restriction is required, so your doctor can more easily monitor your condition as well as monitor the development of symptoms that occur, such as convulsions, hearing loss or signs of brain damage.
Viral meningitis - Viral meningitis can be treated without having to go to hospital, with medication to relieve pain and reduce fever. The patient may experience symptoms for about two weeks before the treatment is overcome the cause of the disease. Patients are also advised to drink plenty of fluids so their bodies can get rid of viruses faster.
Other treatment methods are also performed to relieve severe symptoms experienced by patients. For example, if the patient has difficulty breathing, then oxygen therapy can be given. To prevent the shortage of body fluids (dehydration), patients will also be given fluids through the infusion.

In most cases, adult patients need full recovery without additional treatment. However, some complications may arise in some cases where the patient has a disease or other health disorder. Patients like this are advised to return to see a doctor to undergo an examination to prevent meningitis back relapse and ensure that there will be no long-term complications.

In children, it is important to bring the child back to see a doctor after the disease is resolved. Children are more susceptible to long-term effects of this condition such as hearing loss. A follow-up visit will help ensure their recovery.

Prevention of Meningitis

Since meningitis can be life-threatening, especially if it is caused by bacteria, it is important for us to know how this condition can be avoided. The best way to prevent this disease is to make sure that all children get the complete vaccination that is destined for their age. Although the meningococcal vaccine is not included in the standard immunization list for children, it can protect children from various diseases that can lead to meningitis. The vaccines include:

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)

Pneumococcus (PCV or PPSV) - Vaccines are very important because they protect children from bacteria that can cause meningitis. In addition to being given to each baby, this vaccine is also recommended for those who have a cochlear graft to help them cope with hearing loss; several studies have shown that the use of this type of graft can cause ear infections because of bacteria that can lead to meningitis. The relationship between ear infections and close Meningitis makes ear infections should be treated promptly.
Meningococcal vaccine, which is given to prevent Meningitis-causing bacteria, is only recommended for those who are on the way to countries where meningitis is common and those with a defect in the immune system, regardless of age.

Although not included in the standard immunization list, you and your doctor may discuss whether or not you or your child need the meningococcal vaccine.

In addition to providing the necessary vaccines, there are also several other ways you can reduce your family's risk of getting Meningitis, such as:

Avoiding people suffering from Meningitis and places exposed to inflammation
Frequent hand washing
Avoid wild animals
Prevent mosquito bites and insects

What is Meningitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and How to Treat